MLB.com beat writer Brian McTaggart blogs about all things Astros.

Astros announce Minor League Players of the Month

The Astros player development department has named the following Players of the Month for June: Oklahoma City: RHP Mickey Storey, IF Mike Hessman; Corpus Christi: RHP Jose Cisnero, IF Jonathan Villar, IF Andrew Simunic; Lancaster: RHP Jose Trinidad, C Ben Heath, IF Ben Orloff; Lexington: RHP Mike Foltynewicz, IF Delino DeShields Jr., IF Zach Johnson; Dominican Summer League: RHP Samil De Los Santos, IF Randy Cesar, IF Yoel Silfa. These awards are chosen every month by the field staff of each team.

IF Mike Hessman, Offensive Player of the Month: .279 (29×104), 19 R, 2 2B, 14 HR, 27 RBI, .702 SLG in 26 games in June

IF Mike Hessman, Defensive Player of the Month: 58 games at 1B, .996 FP (2E/514TC) this season

Notes: Mickey Storey allowed just 1 earned run in 16 innings over 10 appearances in June…has compiled a 6-2 record on the season with a 3.49 ERA (19ER/49IP) and 51 strikeouts in 27 appearances (2 starts)…ranks 2nd on the team in wins…Mike Hessman hit 14 home runs in June and currently leads the Pacific Coast League in the category with 26…hit 5 homers in 7 plate appearances over the course of 2 games from 6/3-4…posted a .702 slugging percentage during the month and drove in 27 runs…was named to the PCL All-Star Team…has committed just 2 errors in 514 total chances for a .996 fielding percentage in 58 games at first base this season.

IF Andrew Simunic, Defensive Player of the Month: 65 games, 55 at 3B, .969 FP (6E/191TC), 132 assists this season

Notes: Jose Cisnero threw his first-career complete game shutout on 6/16 at Frisco, allowing just 2 hits and fanning 6…was named the Texas League Pitcher of the Week on 6/4…has a 3.68 ERA (36ER/88IP) in 17 starts this year…his 96 strikeouts rank 2nd in the Texas League…Jonathan Villar hit .292 with 5 homers and 12 stolen bases in June…leads the Texas League with 35 steals…was selected to the Texas League All-Star Game…Andrew Simunic earned Corpus Christi’s defensive player award for the second consecutive month…has put up a .969 fielding percentage in 55 games at third base this season, committing just 6 errors in 157 total chances.

Class A Advanced Lancaster

RHP Jose Trinidad, Pitcher of the Month: 4-1, 0.43 ERA (1ER/21IP), 7 SO in 8 appearances (1 start) in June

IF Ben Orloff, Defensive Player of the Month: 67 games, 56 at SS, .978 FP (7E/312TC), 195 assists this season

Notes: Jose Trinidad hurled 21 innings in June and allowed just 1 earned run…hurled 7.0 shutout innings in his start on 6/28 vs. Rancho Cucamonga…owns a 2.22 ERA (13ER/52.2IP) in 25 appearances (3 starts) this year…leads Lancaster with 7 total wins… Ben Heath hit at a .407 clip with 4 doubles, 3 homers and a 1.063 OPS during the month of June…had an 11-game hitting streak from 6/7-29 where he went 19×48…Ben Orloff has played 56 games at shortstop this year, making 7 errors in 260 total chances for a .973 fielding percentage.

IF Zach Johnson,Defensive Player of the Month: 70 games at 1B, .993 FP (5E/680TC)

Notes: Mike Foltynewicz threw 6.0 or more innings in all 5 of his June starts, including an 8.0 inning, 1-hit performance against against the Rome Braves on 6/3…started the South Atlantic League All-Star Game, hurling 2.0 scoreless and hitless innings for the South Division…issued no walks and struck out 4 in the game…currently ranks T-1st in the SAL in innings pitched (96.2) and 2nd in wins (9) and ERA (2.51)…Delino DeShields Jr. hit at a .303 (30×99) clip and swiped 25 bases in 25 games in June…currently leads the SAL with 58 steals and ranks 4th in walks (51) and runs scored (64)…set a Lexington record for the most steals in a season with his 49th stolen base on 6/23…was named to the SAL All-Star Game…Zach Johnson has committed just 5 errors in 680 total chances (.993 fielding percentage) over 70 games as Lexington’s everyday first baseman…was selected to the SAL All-Star Team.

IF Randy Cesar, Offensive Player of the Month: .268 (19×71), 9 R, 3 2B, 1 HR, 11 RBI in 20 games in June

IF Yoel Silfa,Defensive Player of the Month: 25 games in the infield, .957 FP (4E/94TC) this season

Notes: Samil De Los Santos went undefeated (2-0) in 5 games (4 starts) with a 2.20 ERA (7ER/28.2IP) to go along with 28 strikeouts in June…in his last two starts, has allowed just 2 runs on 7 hits with 11 strikeouts in 13.2 innings…Randy Cesar hit 3 doubles and 1 home run, driving in 11 runs in 20 games in June…Yoel Silfa has started 25 games in the infield this season, including 15 games at second base, 7 games at third base and 3 games at shortstop…has 49 assists and has turned 14 double plays while committing 4 errors in 94 total chances.

Meta

The following are trademarks or service marks of Major League Baseball entities and may be used only with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. or the relevant Major League Baseball entity: Major League, Major League Baseball, MLB, the silhouetted batter logo, World Series, National League, American League, Division Series, League Championship Series, All-Star Game, and the names, nicknames, logos, uniform designs, color combinations, and slogans designating the Major League Baseball clubs and entities, and their respective mascots, events and exhibitions.